What sort of life, spiritual and
intellectual, exists in distant worlds? We cannot for a moment
suppose that our little planet is the only one throughout the
whole universe on which may be found the fruits of civilization,
family affection, friendship, the desire to penetrate the
mysteries of creation. And yet this question is not to-day a
problem of astronomy, nor can we see any prospect that it ever
will be, for the simple reason that science affords us no hope of
an answer to any question that we may send through the fathomless
abyss. When the spectroscope was in its infancy it was suggested
that possibly some difference might be found in the rays reflected
from living matter, especially from vegetation, that might enable
us to distinguish them from rays reflected by matter not endowed
with life. But this hope has not been realized, nor does it seem
possible to realize it. The astronomer cannot afford to waste his
energies on hopeless speculation about matters of which he cannot
learn anything, and he therefore leaves this question of the
plurality of worlds to others who are as competent to discuss it
as he is. All he can tell the world is:
He who through vast immensity can pierce,
See worlds on worlds compose one universe;
Observe how system into system runs,
What other planets circle other suns,
What varied being peoples every star,
May tell why Heaven has made us as we are.
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